Not currently on display at the V&A

Oasis

Furnishing Fabric
ca. 1925 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Robert Bonfils (1886-1972) designed this woven silk furnishing fabric called ‘Oasis’ for Bianchini-Férier between 1925 and 1929. Bonfils was also a graphic artist. This design shows the interest of the time in exoticism. The silk manufacturers Bianchini-Férier were known for their innovative and lively fabrics in bright colours. Lyon was famous for its silk industry, which had flourished since the 1500s. It was a major producer of luxury goods for a worldwide market. This was an era when the French government actively promoted this sector, since they sought to establish French design as the foremost in Europe.

In 1909 Charles Bianchini, one of the partners in the firm, had visited Vienna, a leading city for textile design. He subsequently established an office in Paris. This enabled him to cultivate good relations with the top Parisian couturiers, such as Lanvin, Patou and Poiret, who all bought dress fabrics from him. He also employed chic illustrators such as Paul Iribe (1883-1935), Charles Martin (1848-1934) and Georges Barbier (1882-1932) to design textiles for the firm.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleOasis (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Jacquard-woven mercerised cotton.
Brief description
Woven silk, French, 1925-29.
Physical description
Furnishing fabric, jacquard-woven mercerised cotton. The design features large palm leaves spreading from the top of a palm tree trunk in green and grey.
Dimensions
  • Length: 142.5cm
  • Width: 131cm
Style
Credit line
Given by Mrs Margaret H. Armitage (née Bulley)
Subject depicted
Summary
Robert Bonfils (1886-1972) designed this woven silk furnishing fabric called ‘Oasis’ for Bianchini-Férier between 1925 and 1929. Bonfils was also a graphic artist. This design shows the interest of the time in exoticism. The silk manufacturers Bianchini-Férier were known for their innovative and lively fabrics in bright colours. Lyon was famous for its silk industry, which had flourished since the 1500s. It was a major producer of luxury goods for a worldwide market. This was an era when the French government actively promoted this sector, since they sought to establish French design as the foremost in Europe.

In 1909 Charles Bianchini, one of the partners in the firm, had visited Vienna, a leading city for textile design. He subsequently established an office in Paris. This enabled him to cultivate good relations with the top Parisian couturiers, such as Lanvin, Patou and Poiret, who all bought dress fabrics from him. He also employed chic illustrators such as Paul Iribe (1883-1935), Charles Martin (1848-1934) and Georges Barbier (1882-1932) to design textiles for the firm.
Bibliographic reference
Samuels, Charlotte. Art Deco Textiles. London : V&A Publications, 2003. Plate 26.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.2:28-1934

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Record createdAugust 14, 2002
Record URL
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